New Driver Evaluation Program is Launched

CORNWALL – Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall (MSLC) is proud to announce the launch of its new Driver Evaluation and Advisement Program at its Burke Partnered Rehabilitation Services Center, located within its Outpatient Campus in Cornwall, NY. This two-part program provides an assessment of the ability required to drive safely. This is followed by an evaluation to identify the physical or cognitive changes that may affect overall driving ability.

Part I includes a clinical examination with a licensed Occupational Therapist in our Center.

Laura McCabe, the is the first of MSLC’s Occupational Therapy team to be providing this evaluation. Using a variety of clinical tools as an assessment to gauge the foundations of safe driving such as — Vision, Perception, Cognitive Skills, Reaction Time, and Motor Skills, Laura will make clinical recommendations based on the driver’s performance, leading to the second part of the program consisting of a driver evaluation by a driving instruction school.

The Driver Evaluation Program should be considered if you or a loved one begin noticing any of the following: Any new dents and dings in the car, stories of “close calls” when driving or an increase of complaints of other drivers; traffic violations or citations; trouble with managing medications or finances, remembering daily routines, or reports of concerns from friends or neighbors; hesitancy to drive to usual places or at certain times of the day (e.g., nighttime, rush hour); and hesitancy to drive alone, recruiting a “co-pilot.” Evaluations may be appropriate for patients with a variety of diagnoses which include but are not limited to: A neurological condition (stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease); Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia; Developmental Disorder; Psychiatric Disorder; Diabetes/Neuropathy; Orthopedic Conditions; and Amputations.

“This service is greatly needed and is now available in our community,” said Joan Cusack-McGuirk, MSLC President and CEO “This is another example of being part of the Montefiore Health System means and how MSLC continues to grow in improving the lives of those we are so privileged to serve.”

The Driver Evaluation and Advisement Program is part of the growing list of services offered by the Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Rehabilitation Center. In partnership with Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, also a member of the Montefiore Health System, MSLC offers physical, occupational and speech therapies, along with cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

“We are proud to have Burke Rehabilitation as our partner, doing so has provided us with the necessary training for our Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Rehabilitation Services Team” said Daniel Maughan, Senior Vice President of Transformation. “Being part of something bigger has brought us to yet another day of growth. We are delighted to provide this service to our community,”

Driver Evaluation appointments require a referral from your physician. Please contact your physician to obtain a referral that states Driver Evaluation with the patient’s name, phone and medical diagnosis. If you have questions about Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall’s Driver Evaluation and Advisement Program, please call the MSLC Rehabilitative Services Cornwall location at (845) 458-4267. To learn more, please visit www.MontefioreSLC.org.